Don't Hold Your Breath!
There are just five days until July 30th at 6 PM, which is the MLB Trade Deadline. Remember also that there is no “Waiver Deadline” this year. The trade deadline is the final opportunity to make a trade. For weeks, most Dodger fans have been playing GM and putting together all…
There are just five days until July 30th at 6 PM, which is the MLB Trade Deadline. Remember also that there is no “Waiver Deadline” this year. The trade deadline is the final opportunity to make a trade. For weeks, most Dodger fans have been playing GM and putting together all kinds of trades… most of which were of the “dope-fiend” variety. Since the All-Star Break, we have seen some bats start to wake up, namely Kike, and Gavin Lux, as well as Austin Barnes. However, Chris Taylor and Miguel Rojas just went on the IL, and Rojas’ “forearm tightness” has to be considered possibly “career-ending.” Miggy Ro is 35 and would be an unlikely candidate to have Tommy John Surgery at that age. If it is the UCL, then I would expect to see Miggy settle into a role with the Dodgers. That is going to happen.. whether it is next year or later.
I can see the Dodgers adding another infielder and maybe a CF like Bellinger, who will not cost much in prospect collateral. Still, I do not see them paying for another starter, especially after Clayton Kershaw showed that even the rust after missing the first half of the season does not dull his promise. Clayton will be fine. Walker Buehler will be back soon, and Bobby Miller will, too. River Ryan and Justin Wrobleski have shown they are ready. If we have learned anything this season, it is that you have better hoard young arms because, as of today, the Dodgers have the following pitchers out with Tommy John Surgery:
- Tony Gonsolin
- Dustin May
- Kyle Hurt
- Nick Frasso
- Emmet Sheehan
Possibly only May and Gonsolin will be back next year. Hurt, Frasso, and Sheehan could be back late in the 2025 season or 2026. To be successful in these high velocities, high spin rates killing of arms, you have to “buy them cheap and stack them deep!” Next season, Shohei Ohtani may be back on the mound and the rotation will have these options:
- Ohtani
- Yamamoto
- Glasnow
- May
- Gonsolin
- Miller
- Stone
- Knack
- Wrobleski
- Ryan
- Maybe Buehler
- Maybe Kershaw
Next year, some of those pitchers will have Tommy John and on-and-on it goes. I do not see an end to this for the immediate future. You can also add in some of the following pitchers who may “graduate out of the Farm System” in the next year or two:
- Jackson Ferris
- Ben Casparius
- Peyton Martin
- Maddux Bruns
- Hyun-Seok Jang
… and of course, there are Hurt, Frasso, and Sheehan, who should be back in 2026. Welcome to the “new way of pitching.” You don’t have to like it, but maximum effort, high spin rate, and blowing out arms are now the norm. Deal with it. Friedman is, and I do not think he will give up the requisite arms needed to acquire Crochet, Flaherty, or Skubal.
Miguel Vargas is better than Randy Arozarena! Kike, Barnsie, and Lux are looking better. James Outman is back and will be facing RHP only. Pages should only face LHP. I have to hope and pray that Max Muncy comes back in September and that Mookie will be back in two or three weeks. Sometimes, you just have to get lucky and have someone like Nick Amed play out of his mind. By all accounts, Cavan Biggio is working his ass off and is respected by his teammates. Results are not also immediate, but I guarantee that Friedman and Company know a hell of a lot more than us.
I am warming to the idea of Rich Hill. He could empty the tank the last two months of the season. He would make an impact on the youngsters as well. The Dodgers can sign bats over the winter, but I think it is imperative to keep the arms. They could trade for Shubal or Crochet only to see them undergo the knife as well.
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Discussion (75)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Dylan Floro would be a good reunion.
Having a nice season with the Nats
If Outman is here to play against RHP, why was Pages in CF? I suspect he would have caught the ball that went over Pages head. The Dodgers need a CF and it doesn’t look like Outman is it.
Randy Arrozarena traded to Seattle, so there goes that idea.
I guess now we’ll know if Vargas is better come October, when Vargas sits on the bench.
I listen to what they say and read what you say.
The Dodgers will do something, but I have no idea what that could be. Maybe a reliever. Mark is right, you could land a high profile starter and then they go down. Jack Flaherty may make more sense. He would provide quality depth in the rotation. I just don’t see Skubal being moved. Other teams probably need Crochet more, willing to pay a higher price. Hill is not a bad idea.
But the Dodgers do have pitchers returning. Good to have Kershaw back. I’m guessing Yamamoto returns. Walker Buehler? No idea. He’ll be back, but what can the Dodgers expect? Could come back and pitch well. But, again, who knows.
Good to have Glasnow back. Stone should be fine and the young pitchers are stepping up. Then there is Miller. Just a guess, but the Dodgers pursue depth . I just don’t see the Dodgers going all in, no matter what they say.
The Dodgers are in a good position moving forward. Maybe a tweak or two is better than landing one of the “prizes.”
Let’s give Kersh a break. That was not a bad start for first time back from surgery. Compare to Miller and Buehler. If Kersh stays healthy, he’ll be a playoff starter. Can the Dodgers go into October with 4 healthy and reliable starters? We’ve got the horses if healthy.
“Miguel Vargas is better than Randy Arozarena!”
This statement is 100% false come on Mark.
Ok. I have made my mind up what is best for the Dodgers at the deadline:
Trade for Flaherty. He is on an expiring contract and should not cost the farm. I am fine with him being the Nr. 2 or 3 starter in a playoff series.
Trade for Tanner Scott and Chisholm with the Marlins. Scott is the bona fide closer who does not make you tremble every time he goes out . Yes, everyone blows a save now and then but he is reliable and as close to automatic as they come . Chisholm kills two birds with one stone. Can play CF and the infield. With Rojas there would be no clubhouse war .
This trade will not be cheap and will cost some prospect capital but the return is exactly what the Dodgers need.
I think a package of Rushing, Knack plus two lower level prospects coud do it. Looking at the Arozarena trade and what little the Rays got in return I am hopeful the Dodgers can make that happen .
Clayton was hit hard yesterday, 6 hits plus some loud outs too. The strikouts were encouraging but I do not think he would be a good option as a playoff starter if he does not improve in his next starts.
Hill as an innings eater to lessen the load on our starters is an intriguing option. Especially if the Dodgers would be able to lock up the division early.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!